Hate crime sends Mount Morris man to prison

OREGON - A man pleaded guilty today to a hate crime and was sentenced to three years in prison, Ogle County State's Attorney Mike Rock announced.

Justin Coltrain, 33, of Mount Morris, pleaded guilty to the class 4 felony. Upon his release from prison, he must also serve one year of mandatory supervised release.

The crime and charge stemmed from an underage drinking party held Aug. 10 in Oregon. During the course of the investigation, Oregon police learned three black males from Rockford were invited and attended the party.

The party was peaceful until between 2 and 3 a.m. when racial slurs were used against one of the black males from Rockford and an argument began that spilled out on to Monroe Street. It was during this time frame that Coltrain struck and choked one of the black males while shouting racial slurs, Rock said.

It was at this same underage drinking party that 18-year-old Oregon resident Jonathan Williams died after not receiving medical attention for injuries he received during an altercation.

Williams, a white senior at Oregon High School, chased an individual, who then hit Williams, according to prosecutors. Williams fell and struck his head and was carried back into the house, where he was left for hours before receiving medical attention.

The individual who threw the punch that led to Williams' death acted in self-defense, Rock said, and was not charged.

"Jonathan's death was preventable and the direct result of the actions of individuals at the party who started the fight, and other individuals who failed to get Mr. Williams medical attention that likely would have saved his life," Rock told the Register Star in November.

Williams was pronounced dead the next day at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

As many as nine people were charged in connection with what Rock called a racially-motivated fight.

Coltrain and Matthew Steder, 22, of Mount Morris, were accused of starting the melee by attacking black people at the party.

According to court records, Steder pleaded not guilty to three counts of hate crime, aggravated battery and two counts of battery. His next court appearance is March 10.

Brian Galor, 21, was charged with delivering alcohol to a minor.

Maria Coleman, Cody Munroe, Cameron Clark and Kylie Heck were charged with reckless conduct for not getting Williams the medical attention that could have saved his life.